Chicken-feeder.



W. L. KELLER.

CHICKEN FEEDER.

APPLICATION rum) nno. ao, 1912.

1,1 12,068, Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

HIE NORRIS PETERS to. PHOro-LIYHO WASHINGTON. 0. c.

UNITED STATES PA ENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM L. KELLER, or KEARNEY, NEBRASKA.

CHICKEN-FEEDER.

Specification of Letters l atent.

Patented Sept.29, 1914.

Application filed December 30, 19 12. Serial No. 739,388. I

To all whom it may concern I Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. KELLER,

companying drawings and consists in oer-- I tain novel features whichWlll be herein after first fully described and then more particularlypointed out in the claims following the description. I

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatusembodying my present improvements; Fig. 2 is an enlarged verticalsection of the same; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail vertical section ofthe lower end of the hopper and the parts coiiperating therewith; Fig. 4is a detail section on the line 4lL of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a detailsection through the support for the bait box.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a hopper 1 which may be of anydesired shape and is preferably cylindrical and formed of sheet metal.The hopper may be supported in anyconvenient manner and is illustratedas being equipped with downwardly diverging legs 2 which may rest uponthe ground or may be secured to a suitable platform, as will be readilyunderstood. The hopper is also equipped with a cover or lid 3 adapted tofit snuglyin the open top of the same so that, after the hopper has beenfilled, the grain or other feed will be protected against the attemptsof birds or mice to steal the same and also protected against theweather. I The lower end of the hopper is of a conical formation, asshown at 4, and provided with a central spout or outlet tube 5, andthrough the said spout or outlet tube an operating rod 6 axiallyextends. The upper end' of the said rod 6 extends through and isguidedby a cross bar 7 secured within the hopper, and a spring 8 is coiledaround the upper end of the rod between the said cross bar and a nut 9at the upper extremity of the rod, so that, by the expansion of thespring, the rod will be normally held upward. Near the bottom ofthejhopper is provided a battle plate 10 of conical form having its edgeprovided with arcuate notches 11 whereby spaces are provided throughwhich the grainmay pass to the discharge spout or outlet tube 5, as willbe readily understood. -It will also be readily understood that anopening 12 is provided at the apex or center of thisbafi'ie plate sothatthe rod will be further guided by the said plate without undulywearing thereon.

is aconical cut-off valve 13 which is adapted to engage the upper end ofthe spout or discharge tube 5 when the rod is, depressed so thatexcessive flow of grain from the I ,hopper will be prevented. It willalso be readily understood that by adjusting the tension of the spring 8:and adjusting. the

cut-ofl' valve along the operating rod the amount of grain permitted toescape at each operation may be regulated and the device will beadjusted to the weight and strength of the chickens within the inolosureor the number of fowls which are apt to be feed ing at one time. Belowthe discharge tube 5 a deflector or spreader l l is secured upon theoperating rod, the connection consisting of a nut 15 threaded'upon theoperating rod, as shown most clearly in Fig. 8 and secured to thedeflector or spreader by bolts 16. The nut. is preferably conical so asto fit snugly within and reinforce the apex of the spreader and obtain asufficiently extended engagement with the operating rod to be firmlysupported and to hold the members of the rod together if the exigenciesof manufacture should necessitate the makerably consist of a tube ofwire netting secured rigidly to the operating rod and filled with cornor other feed so that the corn will be visible through the side of thebox and attract the attention of the fowls.

The bait box will be preferably arranged around the rod with its lowerend resting upon a clip 20 clamped around the rod by a Secured I I uponthe operating rod within the hopper bolt 21. This support may obviouslybe secured at any point along the rod so that the bait box may beadjusted to a height at which it will be out of reach of the largestfowl in the inclosure.

It is thought the operation of the device will be readily understood.When a chicken desires to feed, it will attempt to get at the corndisplayed in the bait box and this attempt Will cause it to fly up toand alight upon the perch 18. The weight of the chicken will cause theoperating rod to at once drop until the cut-off valve 13 arrests thedownward movement by engaging the upper end of the discharge spout 5 andthe corn which may have been previously fed into" the discharge spoutwill then pass 1 therefrom onto the spreader 14: by which it I passinginto the discharge tube, as will be readily understood. It will be notedthat the baflie plate 10 prevents the grain flowing in a mass to thedischarge spout and directs the same toward the side of the hopper sothat the grain passing the baffle plate will roll down the conicalbottom of the hopper and, consequently, pass under or around the cut-offvalve into the discharge spout. As the grain will be held within thedischarge tube until the operating rod is depressed by a fowl alightingon the perch, loss 'of grain is prevented, inasmuch as only thatquantity above the spreader and within the discharge tube can escape ateach operation, the cutoff valve descending with the spreader so as toprevent flow into the discharge tube.

The fowls will be fully fed by the use of my device without any waste ofgrain, inasmuch as a very small quantity will be discharged at eachoperation of the device and the fowls will quickly learn that a supplyof grain will be provided every time the rod is operated. Consequently,the fowls will continue flying onto the perch until their hunger hasbeensatisfied and will then stop,

so that no more grain will be discharged.

The device isthoroughly proof against the weather and against theefforts of birds, mice, or other marauders to abstract the grain.

What I claim is l. A device for the purpose stated comprising a hopper,a yieldably supported operating rod extending into the hop-per, acut-off valve carried by said rod within the hopper, a bait box fittedaround the rod below the hopper, and a perch carried by the rod belowthe bait box.

2. A device for the purpose stated comprising a hopper, a yieldablysupported operating rod extending into the hopper, acutoff valve carriedby said rod within the hopper, a support secured upon the rod below thehopper, a bait box fitting around the rod and resting upon said support,and a perch carried by the rod below the bait box.

3. A device for the purpose stated comprising a hopper, a yieldablysupported operating rod extending into the hopper, a cutoff valvecarried by said rod within the hopper, a clip fitted around the rodbelow the hopper, a bolt inserted through the ends of the clip andclamping the same around said rod, a bait box fitted around the rod andresting on said clip, and a perch carried by the rod below the bait box.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM L. KELLER. [L. s.] Witnesses:

PAUL E. CAVENEE, WILLARD F. BAILEY.

Copies-o! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0."

